NATO gives no guarantee to non-deployment of nuclear weapons in Finland, Sweden

NATO does not give Russia guarantees regarding the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in Finland and Sweden in case they join NATO.

“Each state has the freedom in the nuclear sphere to accept or not to accept weapons. We are not talking about imposing restrictions,” Camille Grand, NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Defence Investment, said in an interview with the Swiss television company RTS on June 7.

Grand said the issue of nuclear weapons is decided by each NATO member country "sovereignly".

“The Russians themselves have said that the issue of the two Scandinavian countries joining NATO is not necessary, and I don’t think that it would be justified," he noted.

The NATO official claimed that Finland and Sweden, having a defensive position of peaceful states, do not seek confrontation with Russia.

Grand expressed his hope that the differences between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden regarding the desire of Helsinki and Stockholm to join the alliance will be resolved "by the NATO summit" in Madrid, which will be held June 28-30.

“It is important to take into account Türkiye’s demands and sit down at the negotiating table … With regard to Finland, the demands of the Turks are primarily political,” he stated.